Could 15 yr old son have crohns/uc?

My son, now 15, has suffered with nausea and pain for years.  Two years ago his gallbladder was removed due to only 12% function.  He still complains of the same symptoms and has missed so much school that he's been on homebound every year.  His GP has done so much bloodwork, xrays, ctscans and mrcp and hasn't found anything wrong so her recommendation was to go talk to therapist...she thinks it's all in his head making himself sick not wanting to go to school for some reason.  He will not go because he said...why do I need to talk to someone when I'm sick??!!  She also sent him to gastro dr twice, he had a scope done once before gallbladder removal which showed nothing and then another one a few weeks ago, along with colonoscopy w/biopsy (which came back good),  that showed gastritis.  Gastro dr put him on carafate plus his GP has him on 2 Prilosec a day and Zofran.  None of this seems to be helping so Gastro dr said come back in a month and if he's not feeling any better he is going to do the emptying test.  My son just complains of nausea, cramping, dizziness, headaches, backaches, weak, has constant diarrhea but never vomits (but sometimes he says he feels like he's going to but don't).  He has lost about 16 lbs in last few months, but his appetite doesn't seem to be affected by this (he's a good eater).  (This is why dr doesn't think he's sick...she says if he's eating good still and not vomitting and just has nausea, she doesn't feel he's really sick).  He also has an extremely high liver count, GP says very fatty liver.  He's also had a couple eye infections, nose bleeds and...(this is a weird symptom) his butt cheek itches alot!!  My husband and I have been so stressed over this, trying to get him to go to school.  Sometimes we've really been mean and threatening to him and it don't help, he says he can't help it if he's sick.  Then we feel bad, thinking...what if he really is sick.  It's so hard to know when no tests or bloodwork are showing anything.  

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Though IBD can develop in a 15 year old, it is unlikely to be the cause of his symptoms with normal colonoscopy/ biopsy and imaging studies. If his symptoms do not seem to improve with the management plan suggested by the gastroenterologist I would suggest seeking a review with him. Eye infections and nose bleeds need to be evaluated by an ophthalmologist and an ENT specialist respectively and itching by a dermatologist.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!